3. The membership of the new govt

Question 1

How did Kerensky want his ministry to be?

Answer 1

• A liberal-socialist coalition - same as predecessor - to give it appearance of a govt of national unity

Question 2

What problem did Kerensky have in forming a govt?

Answer 2

• Combination of political forces that came together after Feb Rev started to fall apart - Kadets, SRs, Mensheviks

Question 3

Kadets - summer 1917

Answer 3

• Moving to the right - hopes of a complete + decisive victory were shattered
• Condition of country and army left them in despair
• Increasing exasperated by soviets and socialist who dominated them

Wanted govt willing to restore discipline in army and order in Russia - uncertain whether Kerensky would be willing to take drastic action against fellow socialists

Question 4

SR - split

Answer 4

• Between moderate (supported revolutionary defencism and dual power) and a left-wing, increasing sympathetic to Leninism
• Leading figures among Left SRs: M.A. Natanson, Maria Spiridonova
• Estimates suggest by summer 1917 - 40% of part members were Left SRs

Victor Chernov - leader of SRs (agricultural minister in PG) didn’t have confidence of whole party

Question 5

Menshevik split

Answer 5

• Anti-war faction - Menshevik Internationalists - arose in opposition Tseretelli
• Leader of Internationalists - Martov, one of the last exiled political leaders to make war back to Russia: fiercely critical of policies the party had adopted in absence
• He condemned revolutionary defencism’ - argued for separate peace w/ Germany if negotiation failed

Martov won support of 1/3 of Menshevik activists

Question 6

Inter-party talks about govt composition

Answer 6

• Opened in July 1917
• Soon broke down - Kadets refused to serve alongside Chernov
• SRs threatened to walk out unless Chernov remained minister
• Kerensky resigned himself (which ended squabbling)
• Would only reconsider position if he were allowed to choose his own ministers

Question 7

Kerensky’s govt formed

Answer 7

9 Socialists (4 SRs, 3 Mensheviks, 2 Trudoviks), 3 Kadets and 4 others

Looked fragile from outset (despite Kerensky getting the coalition he wanted)
- Had a narrower base of support than predecessors

Question 8

Socialists in Kerensky’s govt

Answer 8

• Chernov - not Tsereteli (refused office - feared Kerensky wouldn’t pay sufficient attention to wishes of PS)

Question 9

Big problem for PG after new govt formed

Answer 9

• Lack of political heavyweights (other than Kerensky) from early days of revolution
• Guchkov, Milyukov, Tsereteli - now on political side-lines